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,'LHARTM A-N, olrNoRw oo D,

VIRGINIA,

Lamas vPara: Nb. 92,527, dated .my .13, 1869.

IMPROVED FIRE-ESCAPE '.I'ZLAJIDIIII!IR.`

The Schedule referred to -'n these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

accompanying drawing, ibrming part of this specification.

The figure is ai perspective view of my improved ladder'extended, and with the life-ear attached.l

My invention has for its object-'to furnish fanl imf` proved apparatus to facilitate the escape of persons and the rescue of property .from burning buildings in cases where the ordinary means of egress have `been cut oii by the fire; and

It consists in the combination and arrangement of the frame-'supporting braces 'and extension parts of the ladder with each other; in the combination and arrangement of the crank-shaft, rope,.pulley, and bail, with the supporting-frame, and with the lower section of the ladder; and in the combination of the life-car, constructed'as described, rope and roller, or pulley, with the extension parts of the ladder, the whole being constructed and arranged as hereinafter more fully described.

A is the truck-frame which is securely attached to the bolsters of the truck, and .to the forward end of which the lower part of the lower section B, of the ladder,is pivoted; For ordinary purposes I usually make the side-pieces b', ofthe lower section-B, thirty feetv long,.six inches wide, and one and a half inch with the purposes for which each ladder is built, and the locality in which, and the circumstances under which', it is designed to be used. The side-pieces b1 are made with a flange, b, formed upon or attached to their upper edges and projecting inward, as shown in the drawing. v

C is the upper orextension part of the ladder, which, is made of such a breadthas to tit between the sidepieces b, of the section B, above the rounds. cis a iiange formed upon or attached to the lower edges of the side-pieces ci, of the section G, so as to t beneath the flanges 1), of thesectiou B, and thus form guides and guards to the said section C as it slides up and down.

D are arms firmly and securely attached to the lower' parts of the sides of the lower section B, between the ends of which is pivoted .the crankshaft E.

F is a rope, the lower end of which issecured to the shaft E, and which passes thence over the pulleyG suspended from -the cross-bar h, ofthe frame'H, and its other end is attached tothe bail I, the ends of which are pivoted to the upper part of the side-pieces 111,'of the section, B, so'that by operating the crank J, of the crank-shaft E, the upper-end ofthe laddermay be raised or lowered, as desired.

The shaft E is held in the position to which it has been revolved bythe pawl K, which takes hold of the teethof a ratchet-wheel formed upon or attached to -said shaft E.

The actual dimensions of the ladder will vary t The lower ends of the side-pieces ofthe frame H are pivoted. to the forward ends of the truck-frame A.

,The upper end of the frameH is supported at any .desired elevation by the braces L, theupper ends of which are pivoted to .the .upper end of said frame, and their lower ends rest upon the ground, or in sockets formed in or attached to the truck-fran1e A.

M is a crank-shaft pivoted between the inner ends of the'arms, D, which is operated by the crank N, and held. in position by the pawl O. taking hold ofthe teeth lofa ratchet-wheel formed upon or attached to the said shaft.

P is a rope. which is passed once or twice around the shaft N, which then passes up above and below the rounds of the ladder', and around the roller or pulley R, pivoted to the upper lend of the section B, and the ends of which are attached to the lower end of the section` O, either by being secured to one of itsrounds,

o1' in some other convenient and substantial manner,-

so that by revolving the shaft M iu one direction the section C will be raisedor extended, and by revolving it in the other direction, the said section will be lowered.

When raised the' ladder` receives additional support from the braces S, .theupper ends o f which are pivoted to the upper end 'of the section B, and their lower ends jrest upon the ground, or .in sockets formed in the truck-frame A, according to the elevation of the ladder.

The ends ofthe plates T, that strengthen the points at which the braces S are pivoted to the section' B, are bent over the edges of the side-pieces of said section, as shown in the drawing, so as to strengthen the flanges b2 where exposed to the strain of supporting the weight of the section C when extended.

U is the lifec'ar, which is formed with as many'sets of flanges or guidesy upon its lower side as thereI are sections to the ladder, so that it may slide up `and down the entire length of the ladder, passing from one 'V section to anotheil without diiculty.

The cauU is raisedand lowered b y the rope V at-` tached to the said car, and which passes over the pulley or roller W pivoted to the upper end ofthe section G: lThe ladder is represented as being made of two sections, but more than two may be used if desired. What I claim Vas new, and desire to secure by Let- 1. lhe combination and arrangement of the frame H, supporting-'braoes L, extension parts B and G of the ladder and'supporting-braces S, with each other,

substantially as herein shown and described, .and for the purpose set forth.

as described, the rope V, and roller or pulley W, with .the extension parts B and O of the ladder, substantially as and for'the purpose herein set forth.

` H'. T. HARTMAN.

Witnesses:

AJAX M. SrRA'rroN, WM. H. BOYD. 

